Draft mechanism



- H. A. REELEY DRAFT MECHANISM Filed July 2,

2' Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR.

Reale@ Patented lie/lay l5, 1226.

nuire srares HARRY A. REELEY,

or MARION, cino.

DRAFT MECHANISM.

Application filed July 2, 1925. Serial No. 41,144.

This invention relates to a draft mechanism, such as used for drawing agricultural implements or vehicles, and has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafterl set forth, an extensible draft mechanism constructed to enable the bitching theretoof one or more draft animals when desired, or in other words, to provide a draftV mechanism capable of being employed with a hitch of from one to five animals.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a draft mechanism which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, thoroughly eliicient in its use, readily adjusted forrhitching thereto the desired number of draft animals, and inexpensive to manufacture. Y

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein'is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is .to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.v

In the y drawings wherein Vlike reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a top plan view showing theV adaptation of a draft mechanism, in accordance with this invention, fora three hitch.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view, in top plan, illustrating one of the sections of the body portion.

Figure 3 is a top plan view illustratingthe adaptationofa draft mechanism, in accordance with this invention for a five hitch. Figure 4 is a section on lines 4-4, Figures 1, 2 and 3..

Figure 5 is a section on lines 5 5, Figures 1, 2 and 3. Y

Figure 6 is a section on lines 6- 6, Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 7 is a section on line 7 7, Figure 3. Figure 8 is a section on lines 8-8, Figures 1 and 3.

A draft mechanism, in accordance with this invention, comprises a body portion formed of two sections, 1 and 2. The former is of greater length than the latten The sections 1 and '2 are detachably connected Y together.A When the draft mechanism is empley'ed'for a three hitch, 'the section.f51 efthe body portion is only used, butwhen employed for a live hitch the sections 1 and 2 are 'connected together and the latter extends from the inner end of the former. The sections 1 and 2 are yoke-shaped in cross section, and the former consists of a vertically disposed rear wall 3, atop wall 4 and a bottom wall The section 2 comprises a vertically disposed rear wall 6, a top wall 7 and a bottom wall 8. `When the sections 1 and 2 are connected together, see Figure 3, the inner end of the section 2abuts against the inner endof section 1. Thesections 1 and 2 are of the sainev size, with thisexception, that the section 2 is of less length than the section 1. The front'of each ofthe body sections is open.V 'Y

Secured between the transverse center and each end of the section 1 is a yoke-shaped brace member 9which is clearly shown in i e diseases VFigure 6 and extends in an opposite direction with respect to thesection 1and so that the closedend of each of the members 9 will n be flush with theA forward-edges of the .walls l4 and 5 ofthe body section 1. Thebrace members 9 are fixedly secured to the section 1 by rivetsV Figure 6 Vclearly-shows a rivet 10.

Arranged within the section 1 is a series of spaced sheaves 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16. Thefsheaves 11 and 13 are arranged in alignment, and the sheave 12 is interposed between the sheaves 11 and 13 but forwardly i which is yoke-shapedin cross section. The

member 17 'is of less length and less width than the member 18, and said membersland 18 are oppositely; disposed with respect to each other. The closed end of the member 17A isilush with the forward edges of the walls 4r and 5 of the section 1, and the closed endlof the section 18 abuts against the inner face ofthe rear wall 3 of the section 1. Thelmember 17 is secured to the-secs non i by a hold-rast device i9. i See Figure 7. The member is .seemed to the' section 1 by a pair of holdffast devices 20, one of which is shown in Figure The inner end of the member 13 is spaced from the sheave 16, and the latter is also spaced from the member 13, see dotted line position in Figure Arranged within the section 2, and spaced forwardly from the rear wall G thereof, is a series of spaced sheaves 21, 22 nl 23. The sheave arranged between tliesheaves 21 and 23. rihe section 1, in proXin-nty 'to its inner end, has arranged therein a sheave which spaced froment arrangedforwardly with respect to the sli-cave 2l. The sheave 2l, when'thc draft mechanism is used for a three hitch, is removed. 'll ie shears 24C is only empl yed when the draft mechanism is set up for live hitch.

When the draft mechanism is set up for a five hitch, the connecting members 1'? and 13 are entended into the inner end of the section 2, and vsecured therewith by suitable hold-fast devices. il pair of hold-fst `devices 25 is employee for securingl the meinber 17 to the section 2, and a single hold-`fast device 26 is used for securing the member 18 to the section 2. See Figure l-.lhen employing the draft mechanism for a three hitch, the section 2 has connected therewith a pair of extensions 2?, 2S, which project from opposite ends of the section 2 and are Vsuitably secured therewith. 1iVhen the draft mechanism is set up for a five hitch, the extension 27 is removed and attached to the outer end of the section 1a See Figures 2 and 3. Each of the extensions is icl-shaped in cross section throughout the length thereof and includes a roar wall 29, a top wall 30 and a bottom wall 31. See Figure 4e. Arranged within each of the extensions as well as projecting from the outer end th-ereof, is a sheave 32, and arranged within cach of the extensions as well as projecting from the inner end thereof, is a she-avc Each of 'the'y extensions is open at its front and fiXedly 'secured to the top wall 30, intermediate the ends thereof, as at 33, is an inclined brace bar 3d, which has its inner end suit-` ably connected, as at 35, to an end of the section 1, or to an end of the section 2.

TWhen the draft mechanism is employed for a three hitch, the extensions 27 and 23 extend a'substantial distance into the section 2, from opposite ends thereof, and the entensions are suitably connected, as at 3G,- to the section 2.

' Travelling around the sheaves 21 and within the sect-ion 2, as well as forwardly of and against the sheave 22, is a cable 37, having its ends 38 and 39l projecting for@ wardly from said section '2 and provided with attaching hooks 40 for hitching purposes. Travelling around the sheaves 32, 33in each extension, is a cable l1 having its ends 42, 43 projecting forwardly with respect to said trees and said section and carrying attaching hooks la for hitching purposes.

I Vihen the draft mechanism is set up for a five' hitch, the extensions 27 is extended into the outer end of` and secured to the section 1, and the cable L,t1 thereof has its ends Ll2, project forwardly from the extension 27 and section 1. Then employing the mechanism for a live hitch, the section 2 is secured to the section, 1 so that the inner end of the former will abut against the inner end of the latter. See Figure 3. Travelling around the sheaves 11 and 13 and forwardly of and against the shcave 12, is a. cable 45, having its ends 46, 47 projecting forwardly from the section 1 and provided with attaching hoolrs 48 for bitching purposes. Travelling around the sheaves le and 24 and rearwardly of and against the sheave loand forwardly of and against the sheave 15 is a flexible cable 19 having its ends 50, 51 project forwardly from the body portion of the mechanism and are provided with taching hooks 52 for bitching purposes. `When employing the mechanism for a five hitch, there is no change in the arrangement of the tree 28.,

y, When the mechanism is employed for a three hitch, a clevis 53 is pivotall'y connected, centrally of the section 2, and projects rearwardly therefrom. When the mechaf nism is employed for a five hitch, a yclevis 54 is pivotally. connected centrally of the body portion and projects rearwardly therefrom. The. clevis 53 is shown in Figure l, and the clevis 54 in Figure 3.

VFrom' the foregoing construction andarrangement of parts, it is obvious that a draft mechanism is set up which can be readily used as a three or a live hitch, Yor a hitch from one to live, and it is thought that the many advantages of a draft mechanism, in

accordance with this invention, can be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, yet it is to be understood that changes in the details of consti-notion can be had which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

`What f claim is 1. In a draft mechanism, a body portion U-shaped in cross section and open at each end and formed of two lengthwise aligning sections detachably connected together, a pair of extensions of U-shaped cross section and open at the front and ends thereof, each of said extensions having its inner end terminal portion projecting into an end of the body portion and secured thereto, a set of sheaves journalled within each of said eX- ten-sions, a plurality of sets of sheaves journalled in said body portion, and an independent cable travelling overV each set` of sheaves'and havingtbe end terminal poiv1- tions thereof projecting forwardly with rcspect to said body portion and extensions and provided with attaching hooks.

2. In a draft inechanisni, a body portion U-shaped in cross section and open at each end and formed of two lengthwise aligning sections detachably connected together, a pair of extensions of U-shaped cross section and open at the front and ends thereof, each f of said extensions having its inner` end terininal portion projecting into an end of the body portion and secured thereto, a set of sheaves journalled within each of said extensions, a plurality of sets of sheaves jeiirnalled Y in said body portion, an independent cable tiavelling over each set of sheaves and having the end terminal portions thereof projecting forwardly with respect to said body portion and extensions and provided with attaching hooks, said extensions being of less width than the widthV of the body portion and having the forward sides'thereof flush with the forward side of the body portion, and inclined brace elements connected to said extensions and to the body the body portion, a set of sheaves journalled within each of said extensions and a set of sheaves journalled within the body portion, the sheaves within each extension being positioned at the inner and outer ends thereof, the sheaves within the Abody portion positioned rearwardly with respect to the sheaves Y in theextensions, a cable travelling over each set and having its end terminal portions projecting forwardly with respect to said body portion and extensions and providingwith attaching hooks. l

In testimony whereof, I affix niy signature hereto.

'HARRY A. REELEY. 

